Is this the best high school football team of all time?

When we think of the best high school football programs ever, names like De la Salle HS (CA), Bishop Gorman (NV), and IMG Academy (FL), and Hoover (AL) likely come to mind, as well as a host of others.

You could make an argument for each of those teams during different eras recently, but what about a team that was undefeated, untied, and…wait…UNSCORED ON?

Saginaw Arthur Hill HS (MI) had one of the most historic seasons ever in 1973, as highlighted by this old t-shirt that was recently discovered by The D Zone, who covers Michigan high school sports, particularly the east side of the state.

Back in 1973, Saginaw Arthur Hill, coming off an 8-game winning streak the year before, outscored opponents by a margin that may never be matched ever again, shutting out each opponent en route to a 443-0 scoring margin for the season. If you do the math(4 quarters x 12 minutes per quarter x 9 games in the season), that’s averaging OVER A POINT A MINUTE.

Best in Michigan? For sure. Best high school team ever? You’ve now got to wonder.

The best teams on their schedule that year were Bay City Handy (who was the defending state champ at the time, but hasn’t played football since 1989), and Flint Northern – who both finished 6-3, and they beat them by a combined score of 74-0. Week 7, when they faced off against Flint Northern – the #2 ranked team in the state, Arthur Hill rolled ’em.

Back then, an AP vote named the state champs, and Arthur Hill was of course chosen. An article from last year from MLive points out that the team had two players go on to play at Notre Dame from that team (and eventually win national titles with the Irish), and also had a guy play at Nebraska, and another star at quarterback for Central Michigan.

Sure, they played in a different era where the top teams in-state and nationally don’t travel like they do today for games, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more impressive collective showing than what this team was able to do in 1973.

Thank goodness for the tradition of making t-shirts like these highlighting special seasons, and particularly for those who still wear them 40 years later.